Unabridged – A Collaboration Beer From Black Raven and Stone

One week from today, on Monday, September 15, Black Raven Brewing Company releases the collaboration beer it brewed with Stone Brewing Company. Unabridged is a barrel-aged saison with Sumo oranges and acacia chips.

The initial release happens at Black Raven’s brewery in Redmond, WA at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, September 15. Thereafter, Black Raven releases Unabridged at a series of special events at select beer retailers (see below).

How did this happen? A few years ago one of Black Raven’s brewers met Steve Gonzales, a research brewer at Stone Brewing, while visiting Stone’s facility in Escondido, California. At that time, the two discussed the possibility of brewing a collaboration beer, but it wasn’t until April of 2014 that the concept came to life, when Steve and Beaux Bowman brewed Unabridged at Black Raven Brewing in Redmond, WA. Thereafter, the beer sat patiently in wine barrels.

“I’m not sure it really nails a style,” says Beaux Bowman, head brewer and owner at Black Raven Brewing. “The base is pretty much a saison, fermented with a spicy, phenolic Belgian yeast and then aged in wine barrels (red and white). Sumo Mandarin oranges and acacia chips were added during maturation. I think it really is a celebration of both brewers affinity for barrel flavor contributions and some non-typical brewing ingredients.”

Beaux’s tasting notes: “Light pale in color with a balanced malt and hop profile. Swirl your glass for bold aromatics of perfume, citrus fruit and essence of wine barrel. Drinks lightly dry with a touch of soft mouth-feel providing the foundation to carry these bold flavors without becoming overpowering.”

Steve Gonzalez’s tasting notes: “Some pleasing native funk from the wine barrels and tons of citrus up front on the nose. Specialty malt provides some mouth-feel and silkiness, and there is some mid-palate wine and stone fruit coming through. The finish is huge citrus, along with some spicy phenolic flavors from the Belgian yeast.”

Unabridged will pour on tap at Black Raven Brewing at the release event. It will also be available in bottles (limit two per person). Thereafter, find Unabridged at one of the following release events: